Tuesday, June 06, 2006


I blog for Tuesday's Treasure

Some months ago, I discovered Faithful Mommy and her Tuesday's Treasure Challenge. What a great idea! What a great way to learn more about other blogging friends. Try it--go to Faithful Mommy's site and click on her link of other blogging friends who have posted their treasures. You, too, may get hooked!

Today, in honor of our week of Blogging about Blogging, I would like to share with you my treasure. If you have been visiting for awhile, you know that our daughter was married last August. What a day it was! In this photo, she is holding my Grandmother's Bible. It is my most treasured item. Need I even say, my daughter is a treasure as well (as I have posted ad nauseum!), but today's Tuesday Treasure is my Grandmother's Bible.

I was born to a single mom in the mid-50's. I was the first grandchild for her parents. I was born under chaotic circumstances, but my grandmother's love was a calming presence. She looked beyond the drama of my existence, she loved me regardless. Growing up, I spent hours, days, weeks, and every available opportunity with my Grandma. She was my role model, she was my hero, she was my heart.

She died when I was ten years old. Because I was her first grandchild, I received her beloved Bible upon her death. Memories filled my grieving heart as I remembered sitting next to her every Sunday morning and evening as she wrote notes at the side of the verses our Pastor was preaching from. As tears flowed from my abandoned ten-year-old heart, I remembered her hands cupped over my hands as we prayed for my mother and father. As I grew up, I would treasure each yellowing, brittle page of her Bible, each soaked with her prayer warrior tears.

Still, how could I face my world without my life-support? Following her death, my heart hardened as I faced the world alone. My teen years were barren, still, my Grandmother's Bible was never far from my faltering spirit. Years later, when I dedicated my life to same LORD that she spent her life loving, I held her Bible near my heart as I prayed my sinners prayer. Somehow, I knew, that my Grandmother was rejoicing in heaven as the angels sang.

My Grandmother's Bible holds a place of honor in my heart. It represents the love of a Chrisitan woman; the difference Jesus' love can make for redemption. Like God, who promises our sins are washed away--as far as the east is from the west; my Grandmother never saw the blemish that started my life. She saw who I would become in Jesus!

It was only right that on the day that my daughter, her great-granddaughter, was married, that she hold my Grandmother's Bible. It represents a circle of life that has been broken; replacing pain and anguish with joy and blessing! It represents the power of prayer, the power of Jesus' love, and the power of a Grandmother! As my daughter's hand held my Grandmother's Bible that day, I quietly wept tears of joy as I remembered the love of my Grandmother's hands holding mine while her legacy whispered, "He will supply your every need, baby. Just trust Jesus."

There is a wealth of treasure in those words alone!

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful. Absolutely Beautiful.

Overwhelmed! said...

Oh, that is so beautiful. I'm not pregnant with hormones, but it made me weepy too! :)

Thanks for stopping by my blog to see my treasure.

someone else said...

What a beautiful treasure! Thanks for letting us share the memory with you.

Unknown said...

Ditto to the above... a lovely, beautiful post. Thanks Diane.

Sandra said...

That is just beautiful Diane :) Grandmothers are SO special.

Loved your treasure, it brought tears to my eyes :)

Heather Smith said...

Beautiful treasure. I was at my grandparent's house the other day, and I was using my Grandpa's Bible to look something up. The pages were worn and tattered and filled with notes for his sermons. His life has been spent in that Bible. What a heritage! Thanks for posting about this treasure!

Heather Hansen said...

You made me cry... I feel like such a sap... What a great story!

Delia said...

Oh, what a beautiful post! Another weepy one here!

It's obvious that you loved your Grandma very much and I think it's wonderful that you still honor her today.

C. H. Green said...

I better not be pregnant with hormones either. But I must admit, I'm all weepy too. Grandmothers are so precious. I remember spending the night with mine and listening to her pray aloud for all the family before she went to sleep. To this day, I know that no matter what time of day or night I have a problem, I can call her to pray. My son doesn't have a grandmother, but he has two really special great grandmothers and a great heritage.

Michelle said...

I had tears in my eyes reading about your treasure - your grandmother, her Bible, and your daughter! What a wonderful possession of your grandmother's to have - not just that it was hers, but also the writing inside of it. Thanks for stopping by and checking out my TT also!

andria said...

I was the only one who wanted my granpas bible after his death. It is torn and tattered from years and years of use. I keep it in a safety deposit box now, it is one of my biggest treasures. I really enjoyed the story of yours.

Valerie said...

A beautiful post and loving tribute to your grandmother. It sounds like she's been your guardian angel all throughout your life.

Karla said...

Okay, give me a moment as I clear the tears from my eyes. What an absolutely beautiful post! And what a treasure. Bibles have always been special in my heart anyway, but one that belonged to a loved one is...just too special for words. I hope to get my late grandmother's one day (but I have to get it away from my grandfather first). ;)
Ha! I'm just reading some of the other comments. I better not be pregnant either, but I sure am teary-eyed at the moment.
Thanks for a beautiful post!

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness. You made me cry reading this post. How awesome to have such a beautiful treasure to cherish. As I have said it so many times before, it is not the 'material' possesion, but the memories we associate with those treasures. Thank you so very much for sharing it. :) Have a blessed evening.

rena said...

Wow! What a lovely post. Very moving. Thank you for sharing it.

Anonymous said...

I know you already have a ton of similar comments, but I had to chime in with more of the same:

Gorgeous photo of your daughter, and so touching to hear the story of who was praying for you throughout your first ten years, and upholding you. Thank you.

(and thanks for the comment on my blog :-) )

Anonymous said...

FUND YOUR RETIREMENT with online savings buying your kids clothes 70% off retail store prices. Because every $1.00 saved and invested today will be worth $10.94 - 30 years from now at 8% per year. Ten grand will be worth millions! Old Ben Franklin would have loved Magic Kids USA, grandfather, which is one of America's leading closeout specialists - buying entire inventories for cash and passing the savings on to you of 70% below-retail prices for new clothing. And resellers can buy 60% below wholesale. You get name brands like GapKids,Reebok, Adidas, Oskkosh, etc.. just write down your discount code of 25312-b4 to see the specials, the online catalog at Magic Kids USAgrandfather,